Women Human Rights Defenders

Saudi Arabia: For the Authorities Women Are Not People with Feelings and Souls

In an article titled "Women's Breasts and Their Importance," posted on the liberal website Aafaq, Saudi reformist and women's rights activist Wajeha Al-Huweidar mocked the breast cancer awareness campaign recently conducted in Saudi Arabia. She said it is ironic that the Saudi authorities are so concerned for the health of the women's breasts, when they fail to regard them as full human beings with rights in the domains of education, family, housing, and employment. She added that women cannot be physically healthy when they suffer social and political repression.

Iran/US: Shadi Sadr wins Katharine & George Alexander Law Prize

The Katharine & George Alexander Law Prize brings recognition to lawyers who have used their legal careers to help alleviate injustice and inequity. The 2010 Award winner is Shadi Sadr, Iranian Human Rights and Women's Rights lawyer, and WLUML Council Member. The Committee selected Shadi Sadr because of her ceaseless dedication to championing the cause of Iranian women and risking her freedom to defend those who are wrongfully accused and imprisoned. Below is the text of Sadr's acceptance speech at Santa Clara University in California on 11 November.

Iran: Urgent call for release of Nasrin Sotoodeh

With the increasing pressures the maneuvering room for human rights defenders and human rights lawyers is becoming greatly constrained. Vivid examples of these pressures include some of the following: the closure and prevention of the activities of the Defenders of Human Rights Center, the repeal of accreditation of lawyers to practice law, the arrest of human rights defenders and lawyers.

Algérie: Enquête de l’ONU sur les femmes algériennes

Chargée de la question des violences à l’égard des femmes, Mme Rashida Manjoo, rapporteuse spéciale des Nations unies, sera à Alger la semaine prochaine. Sa mission : évaluer la situation des violences en Algérie et constater sur le terrain les suites données aux recommandations du rapport établi en 2007 par la précédente rapporteuse.

Serbia: Attack on LGBT activists at the headquarters of Women in Black

The peace group Women in Black announced today that last night around 1:30 am, two young men invaded the organization's headquarters and with a hammer attacked men and women activists in the kitchen. This incident took place just before the holding of the Pride Parade in Belgrade, which indicates that homophobia is the motive of the attackers, a statement declared. "That it was not a matter of a random incident was proven by the young men entering the room loudly calling for 'faggots' among those present, and looking for a fight," the Women in Black statement added.

Algérie: Collectif pour élaborer un projet de loi cadre contre les violences faites aux femmes

Plus de dix associations (1) de tout le pays se sont fédérées en collectif pour élaborer d’ici un an et demi un projet de loi cadre contre les violences faites aux femmes en Algérie. Premier temps fort de ce projet «Stop à la violence ! Les droits des femmes maintenant» : un colloque international se tiendra le jeudi 25 novembre à l’occasion de la Journée mondiale des violences faites aux femmes.

International: SKSW Statement on Human Rights and Traditional Values

The traditional values underpinning international human rights: How can they contribute to promotion and protection? (Room XXI, Palais des Nations, Geneva, 4 October 2010) Thank you, honourable members of the panel, friends and colleagues in the international human rights community, good afternoon. On behalf of the Global Campaign to Stop Killing and Stoning Women, we welcome the opportunity to participate in the discussion on the relationship between human rights and traditional values.

Algérie: Hommage au Centre de Presse d’El Moudjahid, à Maître Ronda Copellan

C’est en présence de Mme Lynn M. Segas, chargée à l’ambassade des Etats-Unis d’Amérique à Alger, des Affaires politiques et économiques et représentante de son Excellence à la séance qui a eu lieu hier, la conférence-débat en hommage à la défunte avocate américaine, maître Ronda Copellan, au centre de presse d’El Moudjahid. A cette réunion organisée à l’initiative de Mme Saïda Benhabylès, ancienne ministre et coordinatrice dans le mouvement associatif ont été associés des juristes, représentants d’associations de victimes du terrorisme du mouvement associatif, des médias.

International: “Challenges of Change: Religion, Secularism & Rights”

A one-day event will be held on “Challenges of Change: Religion, Secularism & Rights” in Washington, DC on 21 September 2010. The event is organized by the Women’s Learning Partnership (WLP) in cooperation with Cultural Conversations of the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Johns Hopkins University.

Iran: German press freedom award for Mahboubeh Abbasgholizadeh

Pedro Matias Arrazola and Mahboubeh Abbasgholizadeh win award for their "extraordinary" efforts to defend freedom of expression and freedom of the press. The 2010 Johann Philipp Palm Prize for freedom of expression and the press will go to Mexican journalist Pedro Matias Arrazola and Iranian human rights activist Mahboubeh Abbasgholizadeh, reports the Latin American Herald Tribune, citing Spanish news agency EFE.